<p>Unless something has changed at UNC over the past twenty-five years since my wife attended, the opportunity for undergrads to have a real relationship with a professor is limited. It reminded me at the time of a cafeteria where instead of someone handing you a plate of hash, she hands you a plate of education. If you don't like it or can't swallow it, the burden falls on you instead of "the cook" , of course. I think it is a much better educational model to have a situation in which the students have a real relationship with a prof--and not a T/A as is often the case at UNC.</p>
<p>I have heard another 'food' metaphor in conjunction with UNC</p>
<p>a small school is like a 5 course meal- lovely, exactly what you ordered,but you only eat what you ordered- and they bring it to you- there is a waiter always on hand to help/insure you get the meal you wanted.</p>
<p>UNC is lovely catered buffet- all the choices in the world ,the food is excellent but you 've got to go up to the line and pick what you want- you have to make sure that your 'dinner' happens- no one is briinging your 'food' to the table nor making sure if you got that special dessert!</p>
<p>i like that better than a cafeteria lady slinging hash!</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>you have to make sure that your 'dinner' happens- no one is briinging your 'food' to the table nor making sure if you got that special dessert!<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Well put. That was what I sensed was the prevailing attitude at UNC when my wife was there. Whether it still is, I really don't know: but I bet it is.
Making kids responsible is all well and good but, as social creatures, we tend to learn everything from quantum physics to gossiping in and through our relationships with other human beings. That's where a smaller university with smaller classes should be more conducive to learning and one major reason D is going to UR.</p>
<p>A professor bringing real attention and a real relationship into a learning environment is not "babying" students.</p>
<p>That's an interesting perspective, because I like the catered buffet analogy better; in other words, I think more learning will happen if you have to take the responsibility for it yourself. I guess that's why there are all kinds of schools. Since my D isn't really into having relationships with teachers (like mother, like daughter), I'm thinking catered buffet may be the way to go.</p>
<p>I don't remember ever saying that kids at smaller colleges "don't take responsibility" for learning... In fact, one could easily argue that the overwhelming majority of kids going to smaller schools may take more seriously the responsibility of choosing an educational situation more conducive to learning, as found more in smaller universities and classes, thus possibly making them <em>more</em> responsible for their own learning??...</p>
<p>I was actually just meaning to comment on the catered buffet analogy compared the the sit down meal analogy. When you compare those analogies, you have one (the buffet) where you're responsible for making sure you get what you need. In the other, you have someone else making sure you get what you need. I didn't say the analogies were valid or invalid. I just said that, using those analogies, I liked the catered buffet better.</p>
<p>Personally, I think somebody needs to either hijack this thread or get it back on the original subject, whatever it is. I know I've babbled enough...</p>
<p>Please note I didn't mean to come across as curt--which I may or may not have--in my last post. I think everyone has very valid points. Obviously some people like bigger, more impersonal schools or there simply wouldn't be any.</p>
<p>A bigger school does not necessarily equate to a more impersonal experience. S goes to a school with about 6000 students (transferred out of UR) and never complained about his classes being impersonal. He has fewer than 20 kids in his class. Often times, his classes have fewer than 15. One class last semester had 8 kids in it. Discussions are a big part of the class and oral presentations by all students are required in each of his classes. He knows each of his professors and students are welcomed and encouraged to meet with the professors at their offices. As far as the food goes at his larger school--it's unlimited. He can choose to eat at any of the traditional dining halls (one is totally organic) at any time of the day and as many times during the day as he wishes--all included in the food plan. Or, he can choose to pay a small fee to eat at one of the many other on-campus food venues. More choices. During registration, he's able to get into the classes he needs because they offer more sections. A less homogeneous student population at the larger school provides an environment of more social awareness. I'm running out of typing space. Higher tuition/costs does not necessarily equate to a better education. I hope your D enjoys her first year. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Shecallsmedad, just thought you needed to have someone "highjack" the thread in order to ground you a little bit. U of R is your daughter's choice and you definitely sound like you're totally on board with it. It's fine to hold U of R in such high regard but make sure you stay realistic and grounded on your expectations of what the experience will hold for your D.</p>
<p>Nysmile, 6000 students isn't exactly a big school. With that number of kids I would expect class sizes to be fairly small, or at least small enough to be personal. They were talking about big schools like UNC with 15,000+ kids. There's a major difference there... just saying.</p>
<p>Precisely why I mentioned the number 6,000. Parents could better understand the background of my post. It's not as big as some but then again, it's twice the size of U of R.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, ny.
The best to you and your son.</p>